this past year he returned to afghanistan, his eighth deployment. back on another mission to keep our country saves. this is the stuff of which heroes are made. this is the strength, the devotion that makes our troops to the pride of every american, and this is reason america does not simply endure. reemerge from our trials stronger, more confident, wason our eyes fixed on the future -- with our eyes fixed on the future. our heroes are all around us, and please join me in saluting one of those heroes -- and leroy petrie. [applause] >> the president of the united states of america, authorized by act of congress, march 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of congress, the medal of honor to leroy petrie. leroy peachtree distinguished himself at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in afghanistan on may 26, 2008. as a weapons squad leader with else the company's 75th ranger regiment, he moved to clear the courtyard of the house a potentially contained combatants. while crossing the courtyard, they were wounded by automatic weapons fire. st